EU may challenge Russia at WTO over pork ban

European commissioner for Health, Tonio Borg, has said that the European Union must go to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to fight Russia's ban on the import of pork. Last month, Russia closed its borders, an action the EU called 'disproportionate', for European pork after two cases African Swine Fever was discovered in Lithuania. "This is in violation with WTO legislation and rules" Borg said on Monday at a meeting between European ministers of Agriculture. "But I hope we can find a solution through discussion. We have been very diplomatic and patient, considering the results of the ban. But I'm not ruling out the possibility to go to the WTO." A case of African Swine Fever has also recently come out of Poland, not far from the border with Belarus. The disease is not harmful to humans, but is very contagious among animals. An outbreak can have bad economic effects for pig farmers. A prominent civil servant of the European Commission will travel to moscow on Friday to speak about the import ban.